Rich people behaving badly is one of my favourite thriller tropes, and wow - this, while it required a slight suspension of disbelief, was a rollicking ride of naughty billionaires of the highest order. It was genuinely scary at points, and the twist was one I did NOT see coming. Another knockout from Catherine Steadman.

After reading and loving Steadman’s second book, Mr Nobody (recommended reading BTW!), I devour anything written by her. And she has done it again. Obviously this one was some dark themes, but there are specific themes that some readers might want to be aware of- check out at the end for more info.

Family Game had me hooked from the start as Harry’s story of meeting Edward’s family and her own backstory is slowly revealed. This is one twisted family (Krampusnacht a particular example - yikes!) I loved how Harry isn’t perfect and the typical damsel in distress, she’s hard and I love that as an author she has amassed a wealth of knowledge about murder and death (is there something Steadman is trying to tell us here?! 😱)

But by heck, the Holbecks are one twisted family. There’s lots to unpick with each of the characters, and there’s so many red herrings and misdirects with this one, Steadman definitely keeps you on your toes. I did guess some of the big reveal, but I really didn’t see the full detail!

This one is for you is you like engrossing thrillers with dark family history. My only ask to Steadman is - when is the next book coming out?

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Simon and Schuster UK and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.
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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: there’s reference to suicide. ⚠️

This book was a breath of fresh air amongst the other thrillers I’ve been reading this year, especially the way it ended, it left me in a tailspin for days. The suspense of the book had me on the edge of my seat while reading and I just had to find out what was going to happen next. The characters are well written and although I absolutely hated most of them as people, they were absolutely incredible and I loved them as characters.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-arc.

3,5 Stars

This is my second book from the author. And I could copy parts of my review of the first one because I feel so similar about this one. It is fun but to enjoy it abandon your wish for a realistic story and just dive in.

Harriet, an aspiring author, met the man of her dreams a year ago. Edward is almost too good to be true. He comes from a very wealthy and powerful family. Harriet is an orphan, she lost her parents in an accident when she was a child. So she is drawn to Edward’s large family who seems to welcome her with open arms. She feels a strange affection for Edward’s father. And he seems to have something in mind with Harriet. On their first meeting he gives her a tape he recorded. Harriet is intrigued. But Robert is telling a shocking story and, even worse, he knows about Harriet’s secret. He knows what she has done and what kind of person she really is.

As I said, the story is so over the top and bananas. I don’t know where to begin. And I have so many questions left. But never mind. Catherine Steadman’s books are obvious written to entertain us and I was entertained. I just found her characters a bit flat. Edward has almost no real profile and although the family members are described as eccentric they never show that in the interaction with Harriet. Maybe except of Robert. But as I write this review I notice that the more I think about the story the more disturbing I find it. Those family games were really frightening and I would immediately have left Edward after that horrible “Krampusnacht”. But I should not overthink this. I enjoyed reading it and I think those strange games will stay in my mind for a while*shudder*.

I sometimes take myself too seriously in my reading choices which is silly as I do like a good modern thriller. I really enjoyed Catherine Steadman’s previous books, Mr Nobody and The Disappearing Act, in audio format but this is the first one I’ve read.
Harry is seemingly living the dream: her novel has sold a million copies and in Edward she thinks she’s found the perfect man. But, as she puts it, ‘A girl with a past tries to marry into money and all hell breaks loose. We all know how that story ends.’ Except we don’t, because the events in The Family Game are far from predictable. The way the Holbeck family use the word ‘game’ really stretches the limits; trial or gauntlet might be more appropriate. They want to hang on to their wealth and power, and will do pretty much anything to ensure that, breaking the law and removing anyone who might get in their way. Get some sleep in before you start reading: I read it over three evenings, two of which turned into very late nights.

This is a thoroughly entertaining and dangerous read. I loved the concept and how the plot develops. I thought I knew what was happening and then the twists came. The family are deliciously dark and I enjoyed learning the darkest of their secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy.

I want to start off by saying Oh My God…this book had me hooked and on the edge of my seat right until the very end. It was thrilling, fascinating and at times a little scary.

The Holbeck family is definitely one I wouldn’t want to mess with but they’re just so intriguing you can’t help but get sucked into their lives. Each member of the family is unique, very different from each other and I could picture them perfectly. The games they play are on another level and don’t even get me started on Krampusnacht; Harriet Reed is one strong woman having to go through that whole experience.

I liked that combined within the story were snippets into Harriets past and also the Holbeck family.

Everything comes together in the end with an ending I did not expect but thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall I would read this book again and I highly recommend. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers then you need to pick up this book!

I requested this as I loved the premise, a interloper to the wealthy family being burdened with a secret sounded perfect and it was good fun but there were plot holed and many questions that I was left with.

I liked the writing and found it captivating.

As a newcomer to the very wealthy Holbeck family, acclaimed author Harriet has yet to know how the family dynamics work. But on meeting them for the first time she discovers they want the best for her as she is key to bringing estranged son Edward back into the family, but at what cost? And when the patriarch of the family hands her a cassette she wonders how deep the family secrets are and to what lengths they are prepared to go
This novel had a fairly slow start for me as we began to meet the characters but soon reeled me in. It was tense and atmospheric. The writing led me to want to continue reading until I came to the conclusion. A cat and mouse thriller but who is toying with who.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy for which I'm under no obligation to leave my review

Harry is an orphan, about to marry into a large, wealthy and influential family. But as she learns more about the Holbecks, she discovers the real power that comes with that kind of wealth and what secrets her new family is hiding.

This book is definitely an edge of your seat thriller, and the twist was one I did not see coming! Very much recommend.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off slow but soon picked up pace. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Robert and the thrill of Harry’s chase. However, the story was so ridiculously far-fetched and the ending was a bit rushed, I still had a lot of unanswered questions. It was good overall though.

A book full of family drama, betrayal and very dark secrets. This book kept me hooked from the first page and loved everyone one of them. I found it very difficult to put this book down. An array of different characters full of mystery and intrigue with an unusual storyline.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was absolutely brilliant.

Wow!! This book is a masterpiece! I am new to this author but I will definitely be reading more!

The family game is a dark and murky tale of love, family, betrayal and murder! Everyone has secrets but this family appear to be hiding some very dark ones!

Harriet Reed has her own secret to hide but becomes embroiled in Edward’s family secrets which make hers appear small fry!

Harriet has to choose who to trust and this is not helped by the Holbeck family’s love of gruesome and cruel games!

This book will keep you hooked and you will not believe what you are reading! The question is who will win the final game?

The Family Game – Catherine Steadman

Harriett 'Harry' Reed, a best selling author has found the man of her dreams, the charming, loving and uber rich Edward Holbeck. They have just got engaged but one thing left to do is meet the in-laws.

A normal task that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone, is made all the more stressful by the intimidating Holbeck Family, a powerful, old money clan that have a history of showing their disapproval of new partners.

As Harry is introduced to the in-laws she is pulled to a mysterious and dangerous game by the head of the family, Robert Holbeck that threatens to expose her own past and potentially bring down one of the most powerful families in America.

I picked this up as an ARC via NetGalley, and flew through it. The first chapter grabbed my attention straight away, it was set towards the end of the book, and I was dying to find out what was going to happen to get to that point.

The story is told from the perspective of Harry, she is a strong character that has a hidden bite to her when needed and because it’s purely from her perspective you can feel the various emotions she goes through as the story pick up the pace.

I really enjoyed The Family Game, it felt like it brought something different to the genre using the in-laws dynamic, which is often a scary enough experience itself without adding in the weird games they play with each other.

This is the fourth novel from Catherine Steadman, so I’ve already started catching up with her previous ones.

Big thank you to Catherine Steadman, simonschusteruk and netgalley for the advanced copy of this wonderful book.

I've previously really enjoyed Catherine Steadman's work so was excited to read her latest novel. Marrying into a rich family, the woman in the novel is thrown into the deep end spending a holiday period with her new inlaws. They have an usual game they like to play that turns into a bit of a nightmare. I found this gripping, truly original and extremely enjoyable.

Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family.
When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen.
But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder.
Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is all part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker.
Because this might be a game to the Holbeck family - but games can still be deadly.
This was definitely an intriguing and absorbing read. I really enjoyed this book and it will appeal fans of thrillers.
This book keeps you guessing until the very end.

I did like the idea of this so much. But ended it up just finding it okay. I could just not get on with the characters which made it really difficult to continue reading. It had a trope in there that I absolutely hate so that did not make it any easier. I think it was just not for me. I am sure other people will really enjoy it as the writing itself was enjoyable.

Thank you #netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC.

What a fabulous read that was I couldn’t bear to put it down until I finished it it was that gripping. Well written with a brilliantly constructed plot it was quite a dark psychological thriller that had me on tenterhooks. The start of the book I was thinking well this is all very nice but where’s the thriller element? Oh my goodness when it starts it starts with a bang! So it was a little far fetched but it’s a novel, it’s allowed to be.

Briefly, with her debut novel riding high and her dream man, Edward Holbeck, hers Harry (Harriet Reed) is blissfully happy. But when Edward’s family are added to the equation everything seems to fall apart. The Holbeck’s are American ‘Royalty’ in the same vein as the Rockefeller’s and the Vanderbilt’s. At her first meeting with the whole family she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to Robert, Edward’s father, and at that meeting he slips her a dictaphone tape. When she listens to it she is shocked. It’s a confession of murder, ond not just one. But then things get stranger, and more dangerous, when the family games begin.

I don’t often find myself feeling nervous when I’m reading but when the Krampusnacht celebrations began it was really scary and that was only the start. I was rooting for Harry throughout the book, she was a much stronger woman than she realised. All the Holbeck family were odd, bizarre, strange and a plethora of other words and with so many of them it was hard to know who you could genuinely trust. A well paced, tightly plotted story full of intrigue, secrets and suspense. I loved it.

Another really unique if slightly far-fetched storyline from an author I always enjoy. I was totally captivated by the frighteningly bizarre games the family played such as a treasure hunt where the losers' secrets will be exposed to the winning player and hide and seek in the pitch black with the seeker a terrifyingly realistic monster. The ending was a crazy blood bath but I didn't see the twist coming at all.

I’m a big fan of Catherine Steadman and I think this is one of her best books yet! It’s been a while since a book made me stay awake until I finished it but this one did. It was a very fast paced book which I thought really worked well at keeping the suspense up constantly. I can’t say I really liked the main character but she certainly had me rooting for her and a happy ending throughout the book which is always a sign of good writing.